Improvement in wood-bending machines



S. R. BAILEY. Woo'D-BENDING MACHINE.

Patented March 14, 18.76.

XLPETERS. PHOTOLITHDGRAPHER, WASHINGTONy D C.

\ which is to be imparted to the latter.

f STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL B. BAILEY, OE BOSTON, MASS., ASSIGNOB To EDwABD A. GILLETT, OESAME PLAOE, AND OSOAB S. GILLETT7 OE BUFFALO, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN WOOD-BENDING MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 74,652, dated March14, 1876; application filed August 24, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL R. BAILEY, of Boston, Suffolk county,Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Wood-BendingMachines, of which the following is a speciication:

The drawings accompanying this specifica tion represent, in Figure 1,asectional plan, in Figs. 2 and 3 cross-sections, and in Fig. 4 an endview, cf a machine embodying my improvements.

In these drawings, A represents a horizontal box or drum, whose interioris to be heated in a proper manner, in order to rapidly dry or set thewood, which may be bent upon its sides, such sides being intended toreceive the greater part of a carriage-shaft, or number of shafts, andbeing of the form or curvature The outer end of this shaping-box "orformer A terminates in an open frame, B, whose cheeks a a project beyondthe sides of said former, While such Sides terminate in exible straps CC, which are received within the frame B. The outer ends of these strapsC C, which protrude beyond the frame B, each terminate in a pair ofhooked ears, D D, while engaging each pair of ears is a trunnionedcross-head, E or E', and through the latter, and swiveled to it, passesa rod, F, the body Ofwhich is converted into a screw, H, and screwsthrough the opposite cross-head E. One extremity of the rod F isprovided with a crank, and by rotating it in one or the other directionthe straps C C are caused to, recede or approach one another. Within thecheeks a a., and outside of the straps C C, I dispose, upon each Side, ashaping-block or former, G, which, like the central former A, may behollow and heated internally, and I pivot each former G, at its outerend, to the cheeks, as shown at a. rI he inner face or side of eachformer G is composed of a thin metal strap, b, which constitutes acontinuation, and is, in effect, a part, of the former, and is prolongedto such a length as to extend considerably outside of the front end ofthe central former A, and between two pairs of cheeks, c c, whichconstitute part of a frame or guide, H, that is secured to the front endof the said former A. The front extremity of each strap b terminates ina head, d, through which screws a screw, e, the'rear end of such screwbeing swiveled to a plate, f.

In operating with this machine a strip of wood, t', of the proper lengthand size to produce a carriage-shaft, and properly steamed, is passedbetween the cheeks c c and a a upon each side of the central former A,and with its smaller end abutting against one of the ears D D, asmallSpur or rib, g, being preferably formed upon the latter, to properlyretain the end of the shaft in contact with the adjacent strap O. Eachscrew c is next advanced until each strip of wood i is firmly clampedbetween the ear D and platef, and thus rmly held in place.. The rod F isnow rotated in such a direction as to separate the straps C C, andcontinued until the ends of the shafts have been bent about the innerfaces of the formers G and received the form of the latter. The frontends of the straps bv and of the shafts i are now brought together, andthe latter bent about the central former A, where they are permitted toremain until dry or set. In order to retain the straps b and shafts t'in the position last named until such shafts are dry or set, I employ,in the present instance, to operate with each Strap, a toggle-jointedlever, I, composed of two arms, la Z, jointed together, as shown at m,and disposed between the outer ends of the cheeks c c, the outer end ofthe outer arm Z being pivoted to such cheeks, while the inner end oftheinner arm k abuts against the outer face of the contiguous strap b, andbrings up against an adjustable stop, a, applied to each strap.

As the strips of wood to be bent in this machine may vary in thickness,the stop n is applied to the strap in such manner as to be readilychanged in position, thus enabling me to adapt the lever I to anydesired thickness of shaft. For the same reason it is important to Avarythe distance between the free end of each former Gr G and the outer faceof central former A, since it is desirable that the connection betweenthe two at this point should be a rigid or unyielding one. To effectthis I einploy a bolt, o, which passes entirely through both of theformers G G and the central former A, and is provided at one end `with aclamp screw or head, p. In practice, the formers and staying-straps areto be of such depth as to receive a number of shafts nponeach side, themachines I am now using each mtaining several pairs of shafts. i

My object in making the machine doublethat is, bending a shaft upon eachside the central former A-is to economize space and time.

I claim- 1. In combination with a central former, about one or bothsides of which the body of a shaft is bent, an auxiliary former, againstwhich the end of the shaft is bent, provided with a flexible strap,which extends the length of and incloses the shaft on the side oppositeto the central former, and a flexible strap, U, which is a continuationof the main former, and is forced against or toward the auxiliaryformer, to bend'and properly shape the interposed end of the shaft,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the central former, of the end formers, theflexible straps C, and the mechanism, substantially as shown anddescribed, for expanding or spreading said straps simultaneously inopposite directions, soasto press toward their respective formers,substantially as set forth.-

3. In combination with the central former,

the auxiliary former, provided with a flexible strap, extending thelength of and supporting the shaft on the side opposite the centralformer, and `the exible strap constituting acontinuartion of the centralformer, the ears D and adjustableV platen or block f, for confining theends of the shaft, substantially as set forth.

4. rIhe combination, with the central former A and strap b, of thetoggle-lever for confining said strap to the shaft, substantially as setforth.

5. In combination with the central former A and strap b, thetoggle-lever and the adj ustable stop n, substantially as set forth.

6. As a means of expanding the straps b and bending the Wood about theformer G, the screw-rod F and cross-heads E or E', operating with theears D, substantially as and yfor purposes stated.

SAMUEL R. BAILEY.

Witnesses FRED. CURTIS, W. E. BOARDMAN.

